Smithers Interior News, October 30, 2013

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106th Year - Week 44

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

www.interior-news.com

Single Copy • $1.30 ($1.24 + 6¢ GST)

PM 40007014

Money raised to date:

$211,120 GOAL

$400,000 NEW ARENA DONATIONS

Anonymous: $500

SO GOOD Smithers business wins RDBN contest.

NEWS/A7

Ethan Woolsey reacts after sticking his hand in goo during the annual Haunted House at Lake Kathlyn Elementary School Friday night. trick-or-treaters will be out in full force tomorrow night, so please be aware while behind the wheel. Ryan Jensen photo

HEAVY MEDAL Smithers trio earns podium finishes at Kickboxing Worlds.

SPORTS/B2

HFP closure will affect entire region West Fraser also announces major upgrades to Smithers’ PIR

By Ryan Jensen Smithers/Interior News

INSIDE LETTERS COMMUNITY OUR TOWN SPORTS THREE RIVERS CLASSIFIEDS

A5 A10 A15 B1 C1 C4

Bulkley Valley residents were reeling last Thursday after West Fraser unexpectedly announced the closure of their Houston Forest Products mill, resulting in the loss of 225 direct jobs. Houston Mayor Bill Holmberg was not alone in saying he did not see the

shutdown coming. “It was total disappointment, total shock,” Holmberg said. “It was something in the background that we knew sooner or later might happen, but we certainly didn’t get much advance warning.” The closure is part of West Fraser’s Mountain Pine Beetle Plan, which aims to address the effects of the epidemic that has devastated interior

pine forests, leading to a significant loss of merchantable timber. The mill is expected to close in the second quarter of 2014. West Fraser said they will assist the workers in finding employment at their other operations, in B.C. and Alberta. “The shutdown of our Houston mill has been a difficult decision and we will work closely

with the affected employees to support them through the process,” said West Fraser president and CEO Ted Seraphim. “Our first priority is to explore opportunities to transition Houston employees to one of our other operations and we will provide assistance in finding new employment.” Part of the announcement was a major mill upgrade to West Fraser’s

Holiday

see page A-16

Pacific Inland Resources’ operation in Smithers. “We’ll be spending some capital modernizing the mill, doing a rebuild,” said Dave Lehane, West Fraser vice president of woodlands. “We’re currently in the process of doing detailed engineering and putting a project plan together. We expect we will be ordering equipment and under construction in

RICE Friday KRISPIES Only!

Holiday Baking!

2014.” Lehane said it’s too soon to tell if the modernization of the mill will lead to more jobs at the Smithers location. Part of the mountain pine beetle plan was an exchange of timber harvesting rights with Canfor in the Morice Timber Supply Area, which West Fraser said will provide additional fibre security for the Smithers mill.

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